Adoption assistance may be available for children with special needs. Often, assistance is provided to encourage the adoption of special needs children and remove the financial disincentives to adoption for the families. If you have questions, please call the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) at 651-644-3036 or our subsidy help line at 800-470-6665, or e-mail us at adoption.assistance@nacac.org.

No. There is a range that varies from up front, one time assistance (typically bedroom furniture) to 0 to $600 per month/per child. The Society has provided subsidies up to $1,000 per month to foster parents wishing to adopt children in their care.

3. Specialized rates, if available, are based on the extraordinary needs of the child, and/or the additional parenting skill needed to raise the child. If Kenora-Patricia CFS offers special allowances over and above the standard rate, the criteria used to define the higher rates are as follows:

Yes. Occasionally if there is a significant change in the needs of the adopted child. Children in care who are in KUMON tutoring prior to adoption, may have this educational support included in their subsidy.

4. In addition to monthly payments, what sort of post-adoption services (respite, counseling, residential treatment, parent training, etc.) are provided? When available, are these services formally specified in the adoption assistance agreement at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

Post adoption counseling.

5. What medical or dental services are available at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

Possible financial subsidy counseling and referral services.
Prescription medications not covered by any private or public insurance plan.
Orthodontics services may also be considered for reimbursement.

6. When my child turns 18, which benefits, if any, are available to our family?

Orthodontic treatment might continue past age 18.

7. Do relatives adopting under the program receive the same benefits as non-relatives?

Yes.

8. Do children adopted from private agencies receive the same subsidies as those children adopted from public agencies?

The income tax returns are submitted by the adoptive family in addition to a self-report budget.

11. Are prospective adoptive families routinely notified of all benefits available to them at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

Parents are told of assistance during the pre-adoptive service training.

12. Who sets the assistance rates and how are they established?

Rates are set by the Board of Directors and past practices of the agency.

13. Who makes the final determination of a child's eligibility at Kenora-Patricia CFS? What roles, if any, do workers and administrators at the agency or regional level play in eligibility determination and/or assistance negotiation?

Executive Director.

14. Once a child is determined eligible for assistance, is there any requirement to look for an adoptive family who will accept a placement without assistance?

At Kenora-Patricia, the adoptive family is identified first and financial discussions are secondary.

15. Once eligibility is established, how and by whom are assistance agreements negotiated at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

The adoption social worker negotiates the agreement subject to the Executive Director’s approval.

16. A child's adoption assistance agreement may be periodically reviewed by the agency. What is the typical process used at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

Assistance agreements are reviewed annually by the Adoption Worker and Supervisor.

17. Can adoption assistance agreements be modified if requested by adoptive parents?

Yes. Agreements can be modified on recommendation from the adoption services supervisor based on a significant change in the child’s needs.

18. A deferred or nil agreement is one in which the initial monthly assistance payment is $0. If a child's needs are listed as high risk and symptoms later manifest, the payment is renegotiated. Are deferred agreements offered at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

It is possible, but rare in our experience.

19. What are the exact steps a family must go through to access the appeal process at Kenora-Patricia CFS?

Parents should follow the hierarchy within the agency to effectively solve their dispute/concern. The agency complaint process is as follows:

Social worker; supervisor; assistance executive director; and Board of Directors.

If no resolution can be made within the agency, parents should contact the Ministry of Child and Youth Services.

20. Families may request assistance after the finalization of an adoption under certain circumstances. Below is the process by which families access adoption benefits after finalization.

At the direction of the Executive Director.

System Operation and Program Funding

21. How is the adoption assistance program operated and funded at Kenora-Patricia CFS?